Heating and cooling controller



March 17, 1953 E. J. DILLMAN 2,631,781

HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLLER Filed D60. 30, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. ow-XV?- W/CM M ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 E. J. DILLMAN 2,631,781

HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 30, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Ki-p ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE Earnest ll. Dillman, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Detroit Controls Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan ApplicationDecember 30, 1948, SerialNo. 68,244

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fluid .flow controlling valves and more particularly to valves having an automatic means .to' vary the operation thereof in accordance with :a condition of the fluid controlled by the valve.

One of'the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved flow controlling valve.

Another object is to provide a flow controlling valve having an automatic means for varying the operation of the valve in accordance with a physical condition of the fluid passing through the valve.

Another object is to provide a thermostatically operated flow controlling valve which opens upon rise of external temperature when a coolingtfluid is supplied to the valve and which closes upon rise in temperature when a heating fluid is supplied to the valve.

Another object is to provide a thermostatically operated valve having an automatic means to reverse the operation thereof when changed from controlling a heating fluid to controlling a cooling fluid.

Another object is to provide an automatically operated flowcontrolling valve which opens under agiven set of conditions when a heating fluid is supplied to the valve and which closes under the same conditions when a cooling fluid is supplied to the valve.

Another object is to provide a novel valve especially adapted for use .as a pilot valve for controlling operation of a diaphragm type flow con trolling valve.

Other objects will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

This invention consists of the new and improved construction and combination of parts which will be described more fully hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings to be taken as part of this specification there are clearly and fully illustrated two preferred embodiments of this invention, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a flow controlling valve embodying one form of this invention and shown diagrammatically connected. to alheat exchange system, and,

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a valve embodying another form of this invention and shown diagrammaticallyin a heat exchange system .for use a pilot valve cOntrolling the operation of a diaphragm type flow controllin valve.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference in Fig. 1 there is shown a flow controlling valve 1 comprising an elongated hollow valve casing 2 having an inlet 3 and an outlet 4 connected to the inlet of a bank of heat exchange conduits 5 having an outlet or return conduit portion 6. There is a cylindrical passageway portion l within the valve casing between the inlet and outlet in which thereis slidably positioned a hollow cylindrical valve seat member '8. The valve seat member 8 has an internal wall 9 with an aperture ll] therethrough providing oppositely facing valve seats H and [2. There is a valve member which comprises two spherical valve member portions l3 and It which cooperate with the valve seats H and i2 respectively to control flow through the valve. The valve member portions is and I4 are positioned on opposite sides of the internal wall 9 and are spaced from each other by a thrust member 15 which extends through the aperture I G. The valve seat member 8 has an end wall member It on the inlet side of the valve which has a plurality of apertures I! to permit flow therethrough. A helical sprin I 8 seats at one end against the wall member I6 and carries at its other end a dished thrust member H! which engages the spherical valve member portion M and is operable to urge the same toward engagement with the valve seat l2. The valve seat member i3 has an annular flange 25 at its inlet end which supports one end of a helical spring 2 l, the other end of which seats against an annular shoulder 22 at the entrance'to the cylindrical passageway portion '7. The springzi is operable to urge the valve seat member 8 to move toward the inlet end of the valve casing. In the inlet end of the valve casing there is a hollow nut 23 which is operable as a stop to limit movement of the valve seat member 8 by the spring 2!. Also positioned in the inlet end of the valve casing there is a thermostatic power elementiii which has an operating rod or member 25 which engages the end wall it of the valve seat member 8 and which is operable upon'movement to move the valve seat member 8 against the force of the spring 2i The particular power element shown and indicated at 24 is a thermal expansive power element of the general type shown in Patents 2, 68,181 and 2,259,846 to ,Sergiusvernet. flhepower element 24 is supported by a spring-26 which seats on an annularshoulder 2? in the inlet to the valve casing. In the inlet end portion of the valve casing-and adjacent the power element 24 there is provided an outlet bleed or orifice 23 which is connected by a conduit 29 to the outlet or return portion 6 of the heat exchange coil 5. The valve outlet 4 opens through a passageway in a valve casin projection 3t which is transverse to the cylin drical passageway i. There is an end opening 3! in the valve casing which is alined with the cylindrical passageway 1 and in which is screwthreadedly secured a guide sleeve member 32 of a power element mechanism 33. In the outlet end portion of the valve casing there is provided a washer member 34 which functions as a stop for limiting movement of the valve seat member 8 by the thermostatic power element 24. The power element mechanism 33 comprises a cylindrical casing 35 having cylindrical recesses 36 and 31' with an internal wall 38 therebetween. There is an aperture or passageway 39 in the wall 38 interconnecting the recesses 36 and 3'! and into which opens a transverse passageway 45 for receiving one end of a conduit 41 having a power element bulb 42 at its other end. The guide sleeve member 32 has a bore 43 in which is positioned an operating piston 44, the upper end of which extends into the cylindrical recess 37. The power element casing 35 has a flange 45 which abuts the end of the guide sleeve member 32 and which is held in position by an inturned flange 46 on the member 32. A hatshaped flexible and elastic diaphragm 41 encloses the end of the piston 44 which projects into the recess 37 and has its edge flange secured and sealed between the flange portion 45 of the power element casing 35 and the abutting end wall of the guide sleeve member 32. There is an aper ture 48 through the end wall of the guide sleeve member 32 communicating with the bore 43 to provide an annular shoulder 49 for limiting movement of the piston 44. There is a thrust member 59 which is carried by the piston 44 and which extends through the aperture 48 into the outlet end portion of the valve casing to engage the spherical valve member portion I3 through a dished thrust plate There is provided a second guide sleeve member 52 which has a bore 53 therein in which there is slidably positioned a piston 54 which extends into the cylindrical recess 36. The sleeve member 52 has a flange 55 which seats on an annular shoulder at the open end of the recess 36 and which is held in position by an inturned flange 55. There is a second hat-shaped diaphragm 51 which encloses the portion of the piston 54 extending into the recess 38 and which has its edge flange portion sealed between the abutting end portions of the sleeve member 52 and the power element casing 35. There is an adjustment structure which comprises a cylindrical casing 58 which is screwthreadedly connected as at 59 to the upper end portion of the power element casing 35. The upper end portion of the casing 58 has an inturned flange 60 which secures in position the annular flange portion 6| of a threaded sleeve member 52 which extends through a supporting wall 63 to provide support and adjustment for the valve. Within the casing 58 there is positioned a cup-shaped member 64 which engages the end of the piston 54 and is operable to be moved thereby. The cup-shaped member 64 has an inturned flange 65 against which there is held a dish-shaped member 66, which member is held in position by a helical spring 61. There is a screw-threaded adjustment member 68 adjustably positioned within the bore of the sleeve memher 62 and which carries a thrust rod 69 which abuts the dish-shaped member 55. There is an indicator member H! on the upper surface of the supporting wall 53 which is pinned against rotary movement as at H and which has an indicator pointer portion 12 and a stop portion 13. The stop portion l3 engages an indicator dial member 74 which is carried by the adjustment mem ber 58 and which limits the extent of rotary movement thereof. The indicator member lii fits around the sleeve member 62 and engages a flat portion thereof as at T5 to prevent rotary movement when the adjustment member 68 is rotated. There is provided a pair of nuts and Ti which are carried by the sleeve member 62 and which secure the same to the supporting wall 63.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows: The bulb element 42, the conduit 4| and the cylindrical recesses 36 and 3! contain a thermal expansive fluid for operating the valve in response to changes in external temperature. The bulb element 42 is shown as being positioned back of the heat exchange coils 5 and in normal commercial construction would be positioned at the air intake to the heat exchange coils 5 so as to respond to the air temperature of the space being heated. The bulb element 42 is operable upon increase in temperature to transmit fluid expansion through the conduit M to the power element recesses 35 and 37 thereby to e thev diaphragm 4i and with it the operating piston 44. The movement of the piston 44 by fluid expansion is limited by its engagement with the annular shoulder 49 which is operable to stop further movement thereof. Upon movement of the piston 44 to its limiting position further thermal expansion transmitted from the bulb element 42 will be taken up by moving the diaphragm 5i and piston 54 causing the same to move the cupshaped member 64 and compressing the spring 67. The adjustment member 68 is operable upon movement to vary the position of the cup-shaped member 64 and thereby to vary the position of the piston 55. This variation of the position of the piston 54 is operable to vary the total volume of the power element recesses 36 and 31 so as to vary the amount of thermal expansion required to move the operating piston 44 and thus to vary the temperature of response of this power element structure. The movable valve seat member 8 is provided so that the operation of the valve may be reversed for control of heating or cooling fluid. In the position shown in Fig. l the valve structure isarranged for controlling flow of a cooling fluid to the heat exchanger 5. Upon temperature increase of the bulb element 42 the piston 44 is moved downward causing the thrust member 5:! to move the valve member [4 away from its valve seat 2 to permit flow of cooling fluid to the heat exchanger 5. The annular shoulder 49 which limits movement of the operating piston 44 prevents the upper valve member Hi from being moved to close against its valve seat H when cooling fluid is being supplied. Similarly, upon temperature decrease the valve member moves to throttle flow of cooling fluid to the heat ex changer.

When a heating fluid is supplied to the valve the power element 24 will respond thereto and cause the thrust rod 25 to move the valve seat member s to its upper limiting position against the washer 34. When the valve seat member 8 is moved to the upper limiting position the valve member i3 is positioned for cooperation with the valve seat H. In this position an increase of valve is'closed' fluid which is permitted to flow through the bypass [I9 may all be discharged.

through the outlet orifice I20 without supplying a. valve closing pressure through the conduit 94* to the chamber 88 of the diaphragm valve. When the valve I08 is closed as herein shown there is little or no pressure in: the: chamber 88 of the diaphragm valve 79 and'the fluid line pressure is operable to open the valve to permit flow of cool ing fluid as was previously described. room temperature is lowered sufficiently and the bulb element 42 is cooled, the fluid within the power element recesses will have contracted and they spring H will then rotate the lever H4 in a counterclockwise direction to move the valve" I08 away from the valve seat .104 and permit flow of fluid'through the valve. When the valve is open, the flow therethrough is in excess .of the flow through the outlet orifice I20 and pres-- sureis backed up through the bleed line 94 into the space 88 above the diaphragm 86 which .together with the spring 92 is operable to close the: diaphragm valve I9. '1

When a heating fluid is supplied to the heatexchanger 5 the flow of fluid through the bypass H9 and orifice !20 will permit suificient circulation for temperature response of the :power element 24. As the power element is heated, the valve seat member 8 is moved upward so that the valve I09 will-cooperate with the valve seat i06 to control flow through the pilot valve. When in this position the pilot valve will operate to. open the diaphragm valve upon cooling which operation is the reverse of that previously described. On the heating cycle whenthe bulb element 42 is cooled the operating piston-44 will move upward permitting the lever II4. to'rotate in a counterclockwise direction and close the valve I09 against the valve seat I05 thus-reducing the pressure in the pressure chamber 88 and permitting the diaphragm valve I9- to 'open. Similarly, upon increase in temperature of the bulb element 42 the lever I I4 will be rotated in a clockwise direction thus opening the valve topermit flow therethrough and thereby causing-- pressure to be transmitted to the pressure cham-- ber 88 to closethe diaphragm valve 18. -The adjustment of temperature response-forthisi When the form of valve is substantially identical to :that" shown and described for the" valve shown in Fig. 1. Although the-pilot valve shown in thisform" of the invention is so connected that'the dia-*' phragm valve will open upon closing of the pilot valve it is simple to connect" this pilotv valve so that the reverse'will take place, that is, the dia phragm valve will be opened upon opening ofthe" pilot valve. Such connections of pilot valves and diaphragm valves are *well knowninthe' prior art and need not be elaborated upon here. It should also be noted that the pilot valve could be co nected to control the application of pressure to the main valve from anexternal sourceihstead of through a, bleed lineQfrom. the [inlet of the main valve. Insuch a connection the .pilot valve: would function in substantially the same manner asjust described. v

- Having t s. d cr e he evsptioni ha is claimedland desired .to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flow controlling valve, an elongated valve casing having a passageway extending through its entire length, one end of said passageway forming an inlet,'an outlet through said casing at the other end of said passageway and transverse thereto, a cylindrical passageway portion between said inlet and said outlet, a hollow cylindrical valve seat member slidably positioned in said cylindrical passageway portion, said memher having a transverse internal wall with an aperture therethrough providing oppositely facing valve seats, a valve member having two spherical valve'portions positioned. on opposite sides of said internal wall and having an interconnecting thrust member extending through said aperture and a valve thrust rod extending into the outlet end portion of said passageway, means in said casing providing annular. shoulders limiting movement of said valve seat member, one of said valve portions being cooperable with one of said valve seats when said valve seat member is at one limit of movement and operable to close upon valve member movement in one direction,

the other of said valve portions being cooperable' with the other of said valve seats when said valve seat member is at the other limit of movement and operable to close upon valve member movement in the opposite direction, a thermostatic power element movably positioned in the inlet end of said passageway and operable to move said valve seat member to said one limit when a heating fluid is supplied to saidcasing and to said other limit when a cooling fluid is supplied, a-helical spring supporting said power element in a fixed initial position and operable to permit reactive movement thereof from said initial position when the temperature of heating fluid supplied'exceeds that required to move said valve seat member to said one limit, an outlet orifice through said casing wall on the inlet side of said valve and operable to permit continuous flow of fluid over said power element-to obtain an accurate response thereof, a thermostatic power element operable to move said valve member in said one direction upon rise in external temperature and comprising a cylindrical casing having cylindrical recesses in the opposite ends thereof and an internal wall therebetween, a first passageway interconnecting said recesses, a second passageway opening transversely through said easing into said first passageway, a first guide sleeve member secured to one end of said casing, and having a bore concentric with one of-said rcylindrical recesses and terminating in an annular shoulder, said first guide sleeve membergextending into and being secured in the 'outletend of said valve casing passageway, a first piston slidably positioned in said bore and extending into said. one recess, said piston being limitedin its movement in one direction, by said annular shoulder, a first hat-shaped diaphragm enclosing theend of said piston in said one-recess and having its edge flange secured'and sealed between the recess and having its edge flange secured and:

sealed between the abutting end portions of said casing and said second sleeve member, a conduit opening'at'o'n'e' endinto said second passageway and havingat its other end a bulb element, said casing, said conduit and said bulb element enclosing a thermal expansive fluid, said bulb element being responsiveto temperature external of said casing and operable totransmit'fluid expansion through said conduit to said casing, s'pringmeans abutting said second piston and resisting movement thereof, adjustment means operable to vary the force of said spring means, said fiuid expansion being operable to move each of said diaphragms and saidpistons, the force of said spring means determining the amount of movement of said second piston relative to said first piston therebyidetermining the volume of fluid in saidcasing and the temperature of power element response, and said spring means being operable as a safetymeans to permit movement of said second piston after said first piston has moved to its limitof travel t-hereby permitting continued fluid expansion without damage be yond t he temperature ofpower element response.

2. In a heating andcooling system having a valve for controlling flow to a' heat exchanger which vagaries a; pressure responsive member closing off flow'therethrough and responsive to fluid line pressureon one side and pressure supplied by a bleed" line from the valve inlet on the other sideand operable-.totopen when the pressure on the other side of the responsive member is low and to close whenthe pressure on the other side of tiierestbn'siv ember is high; a valve for controlling flow through said bleed line comprising a-valvecasing having an inlet connected to said" bleed mierrem said firstnamed 1 valve: and an outlet 'nected" to; said bleed line leading'tothe otherside ofsaid responsive member, a passagew'ay'in' said valve cas mg interconnecting its inlet and outlet, a; valve member in;said-passageway for controlling fluid flow therethroughand having" oppositely facing valve faees, hollow valve seat meimberf slidably pos'itioned' 'insaid--passageway,*said valve seat member having two spaced transverse internal walls with apertures therethrough providing two internally facing valve seats, means in said passageway limiting movement of said valve seat member, means limiting the extent of valve member movement, a. spring urging said valve seat member to one limit of its movement, a thermostatic power element positioned in the inlet end of said passageway and operable to move said valve seat member to the other limit of movement when heating fluid enters said casing, a thermostatic power element connected on the outlet end of said casing and responsive to temperature external of said casing, said last-named power element being operable upon rise in temperature to move said valve member in one direction, one of said valve faces being cooperable with one of said valve seats when said valve seat member is at said one limit of movement and operable to close said passageway upon valve member movement in said one direction, the other of said valve faces being cooperable with the other of said valve seats when said valve seat member is at said other limit of movement and operable to close said passageway upon valve member movement in the opposite direction, a bypass in said casing extending from the inlet to the outlet side of said valve, a second outlet opening in the outlet end portion of said valve casing which is larger than said bypass and smaller than said valve 1o 7 .r y me sweetie ti ..t .cbnt qus w h ugh said valve' 'casing when said valve member is in closed position to'effectanaccurate response by said first-named thermostatic power element n without s p le. e su e t u's s i o t: et .b d i ft an a cl.. v ;xn hr whe p n e n ,o e,t gp rm tifiow th ee Said s-1 sageway in excess of that" discharged through said second outlet so thatafvalve'closing pres! sure will" be sup lied through said ,OU-tlet bleed line to the othersideof said responsive member.

3, In a heating and peeling system having a valve" for controiling' flow to a heat exchanger which valve lias fal'pressure responsive member closing; off fiow' therethrough and responsive to fluid line pressure 'on one side and pressure sup plied bya' bleedline vfrom the valve inlet onthe other side'and operable to open whenthe ressure; on the other side'o'f the responsive member is low and to close when the pressure on the other side of the responsive member is high; ajvalve for controlling flow through said bleed line com prising a'valve c'asinghaving an inlet connected to said bl'eedline from said first named' valve and an outlet connected tosaid bleed linelead ing to the otherside'of said responsive member, a passageway" in said valve casing interconnecting its inlet and outlet, a' valve member insaid passageway for controlling" fluid fiow therethroughand having oppositely facing valve faces;

a hollow valve seat member slidably positioned in said passageway; said valve seat member having two spaced transverse "internal walls with apertures thereth'rough providing two internally ==-facing valve' seats, means in said passageway limiting" movement of said valve seat member,-

means limiting the extent of valve member movement, at 'spring-urging'said val've'seat member to one limit of its'm'ovement; a thermostatic power element positioned in'the'inlet end of said' passageway and'oper'able'to move said valve'seat member to the other limit of movement when heating 'fiui'd" enters said'c'asing; saidvalve memher having a" valve stem extendinginto the outlet end-xpor'tion of: said i valve casing, a'lever pivoted in the outlet end portion of said valve casing and connected to said valve stem for moving the same, a power element casing connected to the outlet end portion of said valve casing and having two movable wall members defining a power element chamber, a thrust member interconnecting one of said wall members and said lever and operable to move the same, a conduit opening at one end into said chamber and having at its other end a bulb element, said chamber and said bulb element and conduit having a thermal expensive fluid enclosed therein, said bulb element being operable in response to external temperature changes to transmit through said conduit fluid expansion to said chamber for moving said one wall member, said other wall member being adjustable to determine the volume or said chamber and thereby determining the temperature of power element response, a spring cooperable with said other wall member and operable to permit movement of the same to permit continued fluid expansion after the limit of valve member movement has been reached, one of said valve faces being cooperable with one of said valve seats when said valve seat member is at apertures aid bypass and aid second outlet be Valve Seats When Said Valve Seat member at said other limit of movement and operable toclose said passageway upon valve member movement in the opposite direction, a bypass in said casing extending from the inlet to the outlet side of said valve, a second outlet opening in the outlet end portion of said valve casing which is larger than said bypass and smaller than said valve apertures, said bypass and said second outlet being cooperable to permit continuous flow through said valve casing when said valve member is in closed position to effect an accurate response by said first-named thermostatic power element and without upplying pressure through said outlet bleed line, and said valve member when open being operable to permit flow through said passageway in excess of that discharged through said second outlet so that a valve closing pressure will be supplied'throuugh said outlet bleed line to the other side of said responsive member.

4. In a flow controlling valve, a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, said casing having an interconnecting passageway comprising a guide portion of reduced diameter and a passageway portion or" enlarged diameter forming therewith a shoulder, a movable valve seat member slidably guided in said guide portion, said valve seat member having a surrounding flange at one end extending into said enlarged passageway portion, a valve member having two valve surfaces co-operable with said valve seat member to control flow through said passageway, one of said valve surfaces cooperating with said valve seat member when moved to one position to close said passageway upon valve member movement in one direction, the other of said valve surfaces co-operating with said valve seat member when moved to another position to close said passageway upon valve member movement in the opposite direction, means limiting valve member movement in one direction, a helical spring surrounding said valve seat member in said enlarged passageway portion and compressed between said flange and said shoulder .to hold said valve seat member initially in one position, a thermostatic 12 power element responsive to the temperature of fluid on the inlet side of said valve and operable to move said valve seat member to said one position or said other position to determine whether said valve will be opened or closed for a given direction of valve member movement, a thermostatic power element for moving said valve member comprising means enclosing a thermal expansive fluid in a power element chamber, two movable wall members in said chamber, one of said wall members being connected to said valve member and operable to move the same in response to expansion of said. thermostatic fluid, a bulb element having an interconnecting conduit opening into said chamber and operable to respond to temperature external of said valve casing and to transmit fluid expansion to said chamber, the other of said wall members being adjustably movable to determine the volume of said chamber and thereby to determine the temperature of response of said power element, and spring means resisting movement of said other wall member and operable to permit movement of the same to provide for additional expansion of said chamber after said one wall member has. been moved to the limit of valve member travelp EARNEST J. DILLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS 1 Duey Nov. 13, 1951- 

